PROJECT ANGEL'S CNY PARTY FOR THE SOUL
- Medsoc PnP
- Oct 22
- 3 min read
On 6 February 2025, seven M1 and M2 volunteers from Project Angel made their way to Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled to host our inaugural Chinese New Year Party for its residents.
The home’s demographic mainly comprised older adults with intellectual disabilities, such as Down syndrome and low IQ, which differed greatly from the children we usually interact with at St Andrew’s Autism Centre, who are diagnosed with ASD and ADHD.
Before the event, the staff at Bishan Home kindly provided us with an orientation session to help us understand the specific needs of the residents. While the seniors generally had stronger social skills than those on the spectrum, they required more time to process and follow instructions. These insights proved invaluable in helping us tailor our activities and communication throughout the day.
Our Chinese New Year party featured four fun activity stations, designed to cater to the seniors’ various interests and abilities.
1. Bean Bag Toss
Participants stood behind a marked line and tossed bean bags into a box. The further they stood, the louder the applause! Many of the seniors displayed remarkable aim and enthusiasm, earning cheers from both volunteers and peers alike.
2. Lantern Making
Using red packets, participants folded and stapled the edges to create festive Chinese lanterns. This activity required fine motor skills, and our volunteers stepped in to offer gentle, step-by-step guidance. With patience and encouragement, the seniors soon mastered the process, proudly displaying their beautiful creations against the serene backdrop of Bishan Home.
3. Perler Beads
The seniors were given colourful Perler (melty) beads and templates to design any shape they liked. Since an iron was needed to fuse the beads, volunteers supervised closely to ensure safety. The activity allowed for creativity and focus, resulting in many adorable bead artworks!
4. Bingo
Our final activity brought everyone together for a lively round of bingo. Each participant received a bingo sheet, and the numbers were drawn one by one. Some seniors needed assistance with number recognition, but with consistent support, everyone managed to complete their cards and enjoy the excitement of the game!
This event was a deeply enriching experience for all involved. Beyond the laughter and festivities, we gained a better understanding of the residents’ daily challenges and how to make future events more inclusive and accessible. For example, we learned that activities involving numbers can be tricky for some participants — a valuable insight we’ll apply to our upcoming projects.
We’re immensely grateful to Bishan Home for their generosity in hosting us and providing logistical support, and to all our volunteers whose warmth and dedication made this event possible.
Interested in finding out more about what we do? Check out our Telegram Channel for regular updates! In addition to holding one-off events, we conduct weekly volunteering at St Andrew’s Autism Centre, assisting with facilitating CCA sessions. We also volunteer at various commemorative events like Walk of a Lifetime, Purple Parade and Singtel Carnival! We'd love to have you with us: as part of our committee or as a volunteer!
